Where the day took me and starting a fresh

Friday, June 15, 2012

I followed my proper meal plans for breakfast and lunch on Thurs. 6/14. But I knew I was treating my sweetie pie to a rib dinner that night. How well would I stay on task was the big question.

I perused the menu looking for acceptable choices. I knew they were listed on the menu even in this restaurant. I had dined here before so I wasn't completely worried about the choices. The menu was also a "winner" since it listed the calorie counts for all the items; I just might squeak by with a healthy meal plan. When Madison, our wait staff approached, I was first taken in by her broad smile and bubbly personality. Great way to start a meal! I asked for plain, iced water for my drink while my hubby (having no weight problem at all) asked for a 22 oz. Blue Moon beer with orange slices sitting atop the glass rim. You know I had to steal at least three small sips of his beverage to see if I might order a smaller glassful another time. Ahhh...so refreshing, light-tasting, and almost slightly sweet with the orange slice squeezed into his mug. I took the other orange slice to sweeten and flavor my own glass of water. Well, at least I was drinking at least 16 oz. of water when I finished my glassful!

I then ordered a 1/3 rack of baby-back ribs with St. Louis barbecue sauce (almost 1500 cal.), steamed broccoli (225 cal.), and cinnamon apples (250 cal.). The sides I chose were the lowest in calories and they also created another veggie and fruit in this meal. I tried to overlook the ribs I would be consuming. It was so very long since I treated myself to ribs and all the calories they contained. I congratulated myself on the small portion I chose. My husband, needless to say, chose the full rack, heavy duty Cole slaw and fire-baked beans. Again, I begged for a small forkful of the beans...just to test their spiciness. At least, that is what I told myself. Oh, they were excellent but my cinnamon apples and broccoli were not exactly poor comparison choices.

I finished my meal, drank all my water and took one smaller swig of my sweetie's beer. I knew I would purchase a small glassful when we returned to the restaurant on some future date.

This morning, I knew I would have to really count all my good food choices to counteract my more than 2000 calorie Thursday meals. I couldn't stop myself from enjoying my usual two cupfuls of homebrewed coffee, a dab of skim milk, and a demitasse spoonful of turbinado sugar. This is always the most calorie rich drink I have each day. I earned this wake-up beverage and I was NOT going to give it up if I wanted to start the day with my eyes wide open! I toasted a 100 calorie, whole wheat mini-pita and spread its halves with one-half tbsp. of crunchy peanut butter, and one tsp. of blackberry jam. I followed that with one cup of fresh cherries; a nice sweetener for the meal.

But after vacuuming the living room, kitchen, dining room, and our two home offices, running up and down stairs to fill the washing machine, move wet clothes to the dryer, and bring the finished products upstairs to our bedrooms, I just had to have that 250 calorie ice cream cone with chocolate and nuts covering the top. Did I earn that ice cream? Probably not! But I wanted it, I took it out of the downstairs freezer, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was not overtaken by much guilt; I knew I would make up for this lack of maximum control at lunch time. I already knew how many fruits and veggies I would consume.

I’m learning that I do NOT have to give up all foods I desire. I just must control the amounts I eat and NOT eat portions of the “worse” foods on too many days. This is a real revelation for me. I have failed too many times by choosing a “diet” plan rather than retraining myself to eat better food choices for the rest of my life. I CAN do this. I WILL do this. I MUST do this if I want to keep my weight and BMI at the proper levels.

Well, I must move away from the computer keyboard, finish the laundry, and then get in some more exercise today. I WILL make use of my new weight lifting chair. I WILL eat less calorie-filled meals today. I’ve already started today with the correct approach. I WILL continue the inroads that I’ve made today.

Can you see the *&%^)-eating grin on my happy face? Well, I CAN feel it!